I was a tomboy growing up. I mean a TRUE tomboy. Like a tree climbing, Big Wheel ridin’, dress hatin’, t-shirt wearin’, football playin’, frog chasin’, blue jean lovin’, fish catchin’, lipstick gaggin’, constant skinned knee’d, dirty faced, all American, tomboy. (Insert BIG grin here.) I wanted to BE a boy. Except I liked boys. And I hated boys. It was all pretty confusing. Not much has changed.

There was a pear tree in our yard that was the absolute best tree for climbing. During fruit season, it even provided snacks! I was like a monkey swinging from those branches. I read books there, took naps, did homework, ate my body weight in pears and just daydreamed listening to the birds and crickets. Man what kids really miss these days. They have no idea.

Mama was fine with me climbing the tree as long as I didn’t knock down the pears when they were in season. As a matter of fact, it sure made her life easier when she wanted a few for pies, cakes, preserves, jelly, relish and bread. She’d come a yellin’ with her basket in hand requesting me to retrieve the latest crop. I used to swear that tree was tied into the septic system somewhere because there were more pears produced from that tree than the history of bad calls made by football refs.

All these years later and that tree still stands and still produces the best pears below the Mason Dixon Line. I’d dare say, the entire country…heck, the entire world! I’d also say mama made the best pear custard pie in that same vicinity.

I hope you enjoy her recipe. I wish you could use some of her pears. Although I don’t climb trees to get the pears these days. …Or do I?

Let’s just say this girl can still swing like a monkey with the best of ’em. Funny the things that happen when no one is watching. Some things never change 😉

Pear Custard Pie

Ingredients:

• 1 pie crust – homemade or store bought
• 5 medium pears, thinly sliced
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 tbsp. brown sugar
• 1/4 cup flour
• 2 eggs
• 1 cup whipping cream
• 1 tbsp. vanilla extract or 1 vanilla bean
• 1 tsp. cinnamon, plus more for serving
• Whipped topping – homemade or store bought

 

Directions:

Place pie crust in greased pie plate. Add sliced pears to crust. In a small bowl, combine sugars and flour. Sir in the eggs, cream, vanilla and cinnamon. Pour mixture over pears. Bake at 375° for 45-50 minutes or until a knife inserted near the center comes out clean. Cool on a wire rack. Cover and refrigerate for at least 2 hours.

I like easy. I still love to climb trees. Bon appetit y’all!